At OSIbeyond, we’ve written extensively about the importance of timely detection and response to cybersecurity threats. Why? Because when it comes to cyber incidents, time is everything. The faster you can spot and squash a threat, the less damage it can do.
Ideally, you’d have a team of cybersecurity experts monitoring your systems around the clock, analyzing every blip on the radar, and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. But for many SMBs, this level of protection seems like a pipe dream due to their limited resources. However, this level of protection is actually within reach for any organization, thanks to Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services.
What Is MDR and How Does It Work?
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a comprehensive cybersecurity service that combines advanced technology with human expertise to provide round-the-clock threat monitoring, detection, and response capabilities.
Unlike traditional security solutions that you have to operate yourself, MDR is fully handled by a team of third-party cybersecurity professionals. This means you get enterprise-grade protection without the need to build, staff, and maintain an in-house security operations center, which is a major advantage for SMBs, especially considering the ongoing cybersecurity talent shortage.
In practice, MDR works something like this:
- Threat detection: Let’s say a hacker attempts to infiltrate your network by exploiting a vulnerability in an unpatched software application. The MDR provider’s advanced threat detection tools pick up on unusual activity, such as unexpected network traffic or unauthorized access attempts.
- Expert investigation: Security analysts are immediately alerted and begin investigating the suspicious activity. They analyze the threat data, correlate it with threat intelligence feeds, and determine the severity and potential impact.
- Rapid response and recovery: If the activity is confirmed to be malicious, the MDR team takes immediate action. They may isolate the affected systems, block malicious traffic, and deploy countermeasures to neutralize the threat. Once the immediate threat is contained, the MDR team works to remediate the vulnerability and restore normal operations.
The completely hands-off nature of MDR services allows organizations to focus on their core activities rather than being sidetracked by the constant threat of cyberattacks. Additionally, MDR providers continually update their security practices and tools to combat the latest threats so that their customer’s defenses remain effective even as the cyber landscape evolves.
Because of these advantages, the value of MDR is becoming increasingly clear to businesses of all sizes. Gartner predictsthat by 2025, 50% of all enterprises will have adopted MDR services for their cybersecurity needs. In fact, the MDR market size is projected to reach $6.29 billion by 2030, according to a report by Fortune Business Insights.
Should SMBs Invest in MDR or EDR or Both?
MDR isn’t the only cybersecurity solution that can help SMBs monitor, detect, and respond to threats. There’s also Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).
EDR is a software solution deployed on endpoints—like laptops, desktops, and mobile devices—to monitor and respond to cyber threats. It records everything that happens to help analyze incidents after they occur. Many EDR solutions now include machine learning and AI to detect anomalies, and they also offer capabilities for both automated and manual remediation actions.
The biggest difference between MDR and EDR is that MDR is a service that always comes with outsourced human expertise. While EDR provides the tools, MDR provides both the tools and the team to wield them. Moreover, MDR often extends its protective reach beyond just endpoints to cover the entire network, including cloud applications.
So, which should you choose?
Given how huge the cost of a cyber attack can be, we at OSIbeyond always recommend organizations get the best protection they can afford. For SMBs, cybersecurity expertise and talent are often the biggest chokepoints. That’s why a partnership with a provider of managed cybersecurity services is typically the wisest decision, both in terms of the level of protection and cost-effectiveness.
That said, if you have the in-house expertise and resources, implementing EDR can be a great first step. You can always layer MDR services on top as your needs grow or as you face more sophisticated cyber threats.
Conclusion
MDR services offer SMBs a powerful way to access enterprise-grade protection without enterprise-level costs or staffing requirements. By providing round-the-clock monitoring, expert analysis, and rapid response capabilities, MDR allows you to focus on growing your business while leaving the complex task of cybersecurity to the experts.
For expert advice on how Managed Detection and Response can help your organization, or to explore other cybersecurity solutions, contact OSIbeyond today.